Itchy: Turns out it's cholestasis

iona76

So my doc's office called me EOD yesterday to say that I do indeed have intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). In other words, these baby girls have compromised my liver function. I'm on meds for it, which should help alleviate the big concerns of fetal distress and PTL...already concerns for twins. So we'll be monitoring closely, and I'm staying positive.

I just wanted to post this as a kind of PSA, because I know a lot of pp have posted about itchiness. My only symptoms were severe itching everywhere, worse on the palms of my hands and bottom of my feet and extra bad at night. I didn't have redness or a rash, and no lotions could fix it (I know now that that's because the itching is coming from "inside.") 

Anyway, ICP is very rare, and I talked to three people before anyone would take my symptoms seriously as more than just dry skin. I'm glad I was pushy!

So if you have this kind of itching, ask your doc for a serum bile test. (Basically, they just take some blood and check your bile salt level.) Because the itching may be more than just maddening and uncomfortable--it could be a sign of something more serious and put your baby at risk.

Thanks for reading (if you're still reading)...I hope this can be helpful to someone!

akgram

WOW thanks!  I am experiencing very itchy hands, feet and sometimes my belly.  I'm hoping it's not this but I will definitly bring it up Monday at my OB appt.  Good luck to you and thanks for the PSA!

AmyA210

Hope you get to feeling better! I was diagnosed with a severe case of PUPPPs (enough that they're inducing me at 37w3d), so I know all about the maddening itching!

mrssamuels2b

Someone else mentioned this a few posts down...she tested positive as well.